His heart thuds loudly at my ear, telling me how much fear he felt. How much pain he would have experienced to lose me, even though he was prepared for that outcome.
“I’m alive,” I whisper.
And so is he.
So is my family.
As Erik holds me close, a furry body pushes between us, squeezing onto my lap and reaching up to press its paws to my chest.
It’s the little wolf I saw running beside Erik.
She has the softest black fur but such anxious amber eyes. Also, the roughest little tongue as she licks at the tears sliding down my cheeks.
A moment later, she transforms, her furry body changing nearly instantly into the little girl I recognize.
“Galeia,” I whisper as she presses both of her hands to my chest, her eyes searching mine.
Fresh tears fall down my cheeks.
“I’m okay,” I say, pushing back against my sadness as I try to reassure her. “I promise.”
She seems to accept my words, resting her head on my chest before she tugs Erik closer to me.
His arm slides around me, his cheek pressing to mine, his hold encircling us both.
We are alive.
We are safe.
The darkness is gone.
The fae and humans will have a lot to work out. My siblings need to be reunited. But for now, there’s only one thing I need.
I take a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling, before I whisper to Erik, “Please, will you take us home?”
He draws back a little, lifting one hand to cup my cheek before answering me with a kiss.
Then he lifts us both up, me and Galeia together, carrying us to Blackbird, who immediately separates from Concord and offers his wing.
Within minutes, we’re airborne, and the beautiful landscape and all its sacrifices are far behind us.
Chapter 54
For many days, I remain in the black tower.
It seems empty without the women who made it feel like a home, but I can’t bring myself to leave it.
Galeia decorates every room with flowers and random twigs that she finds in the forest, and at one point, she brings home a frog, which she eventually, reluctantly, returns to the stream.
Erik takes her hunting with him, teaching her to use discipline and setting firm rules about what she should and shouldn’t catch and how to kill without causing undue fear or pain.
Her growth has slowed since I made her a wolf, but her mind and body continue to develop at twice the rate of a human child.
Her laughter and bright eyes tell me she’s happy.
While I don’t leave the tower, others come to me.
My brother is the first to visit. He brings Tamra, and my heart lifts to see them.
